Hank carriers

ABSTRACT

A hank carrier and stretching device comprises two drums around which the hank is to be wound and additionally stretched by movement apart of the drums. The invention provides automatic means reducing the spacing between the drums when they are brought into a raised position for loading and unloading and when lowered to a working position the drums are automatically tension apart. The device comprises a frame and pivotable carrier supporting the drums, there being means connected between the frame and a drum slidable on the carrier to effect the automatic tensioning and relaxation of the spacing between the drums as the carrier is pivoted between a vertical loading and unloading position and a horizontal working position.

United States Patent [19] Six 111 3,820,735 1 1 June 28, 1974 1 HANK CARRIERS 22 Filed: Sept. 22, 1972 21 Appl. No: 291,407

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 19, 1971 Belgium 51388 [52] US. Cl. 242/110, 242/110.3 [51] Int. Cl B65h 75/24 [58] Field of Search 242/110l10.3, 242/115, 127, 128

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,369,873 3/1921 Altschuler 242/110 UX 2,265,498 12/1941 Stancliff et a1 242/1 10.3 X 2,314,619 3/1943 Hess 242/110 3,126,607 3/1964 Jenny 242/1 10.1 X 3,408,022 10/1968 Gilbos 242/110.1 3,421,712 1/1969 Scroggie et a1. 242/1 10. 1

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 711,267 11/1950 Great Britain 242/110 Primary Examiner-John W. Huckert Assistant Examiner-Milton S. Gerstein 1 5 7 1 ABSTRACT A hank carrier and stretching device comprises two drums around which the hank is to be wound and additionally stretched by movement apart of the drums. The invention provides automatic means reducing the spacing between the drums when they are brought into a raised position for loading and unloading and when lowered to a working position the drums are automatically tension apart. The device comprises a frame and pivotable carrier supporting the drums, there being means connected between the frame and a drum slidable on the carrier to effect the automatic tensioning and relaxation of the spacing between the drums as the carrier is pivoted between a vertical loading and unloading position and a horizontal working position.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing; Figures HANK CARRIERS The present invention relates to a hank-carrier which makes it possible not only to place a hank around a support easily but also to exert tension on this'hank automatically.

Hank-carriers are known which comprise two drums around which the hank to be wound is stretched. One of the drums is movable with respect to the other which is termed stationary," so as to stretch the hank by increasing the spacing of the drums. The two drums are mounted perpendicular to a common arm which can pivot about a horizontal pivot. This arm may swing between a horizontal and vertical position The moving drum is moved by a mechanism controlled manually or by compressed air such that the distance between the axis of the two-drums is adjustable.

Devices of this type have, however the disadvantage that the control mechanism. only operates when the arm is in a horizontal position and the drums in a vertical position. Therefore, the hank slides towards the bottom of the drums before being stretched. In both cases several manual operations are indispensable for releasing the moving drum on the arm.

To remedy these drawbacks, according to the present invention means are used, which are provided between the frame of the hank-carrier and the moving drum, and are capable, on the one hand, of separating the moving drum from the stationary drum so as to exert a permanent tension on the hank as soon as the pivot ing arm begins to pivot to its horizontal position and on the other hand, to bring the moving drum towards the other so as to be able to place a hank around the drums when the pivoting arm is caused to pivot to its vertical position and consequently the drums to their horizontal position.

Thus, this hank-carrier has the advantage that the moving drum is moved automatically in both directions on the pivoting arm by means of a relatively simple mechanism which requires neither manual operation nor compressed air to exert a tractive force on the hank. Moveroversince the traction on the hank occurs as soon as the arm begins to pivot downwards, the hank may no longer slide downwards on the drums.

By way of a simple example and without implying any limiting character, there is given hereafter a more detailed description of one of the possible embodiments of the hank-carrier according to the present invention. Said description refers to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view in partial section of a hank-carrier according to the invention not provided with a hank. FIG. 2 is an elevation view in partial section of the front part of the hank carrier when the latter is in the non-operative position.

FIG. 3 shows the hank-carrier provided with a hank.

There is observed in these figures, a frame 1 of which the cross-member 2 forms part. At least one clevis 3 is secured on this cross-member, on which clevis a pivoting arm 5 is supported by a pivot 4. At the front, this arm rests on a cross-member 6 also forming part of the frame 1. The other end of this arm is provided with a pedal 7. A moving carriage 8 on wheels 9 is mounted on the arm. This arm also carries a movable support 10 which can be immobilized on the arm by means of a clamp screw 1 1. There is mounted on both the carriage 8 and on the support 10 a respective fixed shaft 12 carring bearing l3, 14 on which a respective drum, l5, 16 is mounted. A clevis 17 with pivot 18 is integral with the carriage 8. There is pivoted to the pivot 18 a tube 19 wherein a telescopic tube 20 slides. This tube 20 is pivoted at one of its ends to the pivot 21 secured to the frame 1. The other end of the tube 20 abuts against the pivot 18 secured to the carriage 8 when the drums l5 and 16 are not loaded with a hank. A pin 22 is secured through the tube 19 and slides through the tube 20 in two slots 23 milled in the latter. lnside the tube 20 is placed a draw-spring 24 (this could be a compression spring). One of the ends of this spring 24 is secured to the pivot 21 and the other to the pin 22.

The extension of the spring 24 and consequently the displacement of the moving drum 15 is therefore limited to the length of the slots 23. Due to this, a maximum distance A is obtained between the two drums l5, 16. The hank B is stretched around the drums 15, 16. A draw-spring 25 is interposed between the arm 5 and a cross-member 26 of the frame 1, by the intermediary of an adjustable stretcher device 27. This spring bal ances the device, when the arm 5 is pivoted vertically about its pivot 4. The frame is provided with an abutment 28 against which the pedal 7 abuts when the arm 5 is placed in vertical position. Naturally, several of the afore-described devices could be mounted on a common frame. There is also mounted on the frame a support 29 which supports at its upper part a guide tool 30 along which the hank yarn is directed towards the winding machine. This support may be moved with respect to the frame by means of slots 31 provided in the frame 1 and clamping bolts 32.

When a hank has to be placed around drums l5, 16, the pedal 7 is actuated with the foot such that the arm 5 swings into the vertical position (FIG. 2). The pivoting of the arm 5 is facilitated by the spring 25 biasing the arm. The free end of the tube 20 presses against the pivot 18 of the carriage 8 which is moved upwards on the arms 5 such that a minimum distance C is obtained between the drums l5, 16. When the arm is placed in vertical position, and when the pedal 7 abuts against the abutment 28, the spring 25 keeps the arm 5 in this position. Now, in known manner, a hank B of great width may be placed around the drums 15, 16. Then one of the drums is pushed such that the arm 5 pivots about its pivot 4 until it reaches a horizontal position. During this movement, the spring 25 acts as braking means and the spring 24 exerts a tractive force on the carriage 8 such that the distance between the drums 15, 16 is increased. The distance between the drums is selected such that it is possible to exert a sufficient tension on the hank. If necessary, this distance may be adjusted according to the perimeter of the hank, by moving the drum 16 on the arm 5 and then by immobilizing this drum by means of the clamp screw 11. When the two drums are provided with hanks, the pin 22 of the tube 20 is located at the end of the slots 23, the spring 24 then being at maximumtraction. The tension on the hank is then only exerted by the telescopic arm 19, 20

at the end of its stroke, and the spring 24 acts on the moving carriage only as the winding of the hank proceeds. The yarn D of the hank B is directed, via the guide rod 29, towards the winding machine which is known per se and not shown and the hank is wound by the winding machine.

Naturally, the shape, size and relative arrangements of the afore-discrided members could be modified without diverging from the framwork of the present invention therefor. It is also evident that certain of the members which have just been descrided may be replaced by others which fulfill the same object and additional accessary members may be provided which are capable of improving the operation of the hank carrier.

What is claimed is:

l. A hank-carrier, stretching device for winding sectional hanks of yarn, comprising a stationary frame,

a common arm pivotally mounted on said stationary frame between a vertical position and a horizontal position,

two drums each having shafts,

said drums being adapted for a hank to be wound therearound for stretching,

said shafts of said drums being operatively mounted on and perpendicularly to said common arm,

said shaft of a first of said drums being movably mounted on said arm and able to move away from a second of said drums to stretch said hank,

means disposed between said stationary frame and said first drum for moving said first drum away from said second drum as said arm is pivoted from said vertical to said horizontal position and for moving said first drum towards said second drum when said arm is pivoted to said vertical position.

2. The hank-carrier, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said common arm pivots about an arm pivot,

said means comprises a carriage slidably mounted on said arm,

said carriage supporting said shaft of said first drum,

and

an extensible member having a fixed minimum length,

said extensible. member comprises two cooperative telescopic elements,

one of said elements is pivoted to said stationary frame at said second pivot and the other of said ele ments is pivoted to said carriage at said first pivot,

a spring means operatively connected in said telescopic elements for tending to pull said carriage towards said arm pivot, and

an abutment means for limiting penetration of said two telescopic elements into each other.

4. The hank-carrier, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said telescopic elements comprise an inner telescopic tube having two slots and connected to said second pivot and an outer tube connected to said first pivot, and a pin integrally connected to said outer tube. said spring means is connected to said second pivot at said stationary frame and said pin, said pin is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said tubes and passes through said inner tube through said two slots the length of said slots adapted to limit the extent of telescopic movement of said tubes, 5. The hank-carrier, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a carriage bearing wheels which move along said arm, one of said drums is vertically mounted on said carriage, and a support selectively movable and securably mounted on said arm, the other of said drums is vertically mounted on said support. 6. The hank-carrier, as set forth in claim 1, wherein bearings operatively mounting said drums to said carriage and said support, respectively. 9. The hank-carrier, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a plurality of assemblies comprising said drums are mounted side by side on said frame. 10. The hank-carrier, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising I a vertical support displaceably mounted relative to said frame, a guide rod means for directing along which yarn of said hank to a winding machine, and

said rod is mounted on said vertical support. 

1. A hank-carrier, stretching device for winding sectional hanks of yarn, comprising a stationary frame, a common arm pivotally mounted on said stationary frame between a vertical position and a horizontal position, two drums each having shafts, said drums being adapted for a hank to be wound therearound for stretching, said shafts of said drums being operatively mounted on and perpendicularly to said common arm, said shaft of a first of said drums being movably mounted on said arm and able to move away from a second of said drums to stretch said hank, means disposed between said stationary frame and said first drum for moving said first drum away from said second drum as said arm is pivoted from said vertical to said horizontal position and for moving said first drum towards said second drum when said arm is pivoted to said vertical position.
 2. The hank-carrier, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said common arm pivots about an arm pivot, said means comprises a carriage slidably mounted on said arm, said carriage supporting said shaft of said first drum, and an extensible member having a fixed minimum length, said extensible member is pivotally mounted to said carriage at a firstpivot and pivotally mounted to said stationary frame at a second pivot, said second pivot is disposed at one side of and slightly above said arm pivot of the common arm carrying the drums.
 3. The hank-carrier, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said extensible member comprises two cooperative telescopic elements, one of said elements is pivoted to said stationary frame at said second pivot and the other of said elements is pivoted to said carriage at said first pivot, a spring means operatively connected in said telescopic elements for tending to pull said carriage towards said arm pivot, and an abutment means for limiting penetration of said two telescopic elements into each other.
 4. The hank-carrier, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said telescopic elements comprise an inner telescopic tube having two slots and connected to said second pivot and an outer tube connected to said first pivot, and a pin integrally connected to said outer tube, said spring means is connected to said second pivot at said stationary frame and said pin, said pin is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said tubes and passes through said inner tube through said two slots the length of said slots adapted to limit the extent of telescopic movement of said tubes.
 5. The hank-carrier, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a carriage bearing wheels which move along said arm, one of said drums is vertically mounted on said carriage, and a support selectively movable and securably mounted on said arm, the other of said drums is vertically mounted on said support.
 6. The hank-carrier, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a pedal connected to said arm, an abutment disposed on said frame, said pedal abuttingly co-operating with said abutment when said arm is pivoted to said vertical position.
 7. The hank-carrier, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a draw spring and adjustable stretcher means disposed between said arm and said frame for balancing said drums in any desired angular position.
 8. The hank-carrier, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a caRriage and a support mounted on said arm, and bearings operatively mounting said drums to said carriage and said support, respectively.
 9. The hank-carrier, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a plurality of assemblies comprising said drums are mounted side by side on said frame.
 10. The hank-carrier, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a vertical support displaceably mounted relative to said frame, a guide rod means for directing along which yarn of said hank to a winding machine, and said rod is mounted on said vertical support. 